Star Wars: Episode VII will feature an original story
The talk has now shifted to which story will be told in this first installment of the new trilogy, with many believing that Disney will pull material from the Thrawn novels written by Timothy Zahn. This series of books, which is quite popular with the fan base, has long been considered part of the Star Wars cannon, meaning George Lucas and Lucasfilm view this as what actually transpired after the original trilogy ended its run on screen.
These three books take place after the Rebel victory in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, with the Rebellion attempting to set up a functioning government while cleaning up the last of the Imperial resistance. It features all of the main Star Wars characters, including Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca. And it introduces some new faces to the expanded Star Wars universe, including the villain Grand Admiral Thrawn, who plans to crush the New Republic with the help of a Dark Jedi. While it would make for a great theatrical event, don't get too excited, as this is not the route Disney is taking.
Here's what a LucasFilm insider briefly had to say.
"It will be an original story."
Essentially, you don't need to bone up on these books to get ready for Star Wars: Episode VII. We're still not exactly sure what this "original story" will entail, or who will direct and write the screenplays. Or even which classic character will find their way back to the big screen. We can only hope that Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill are asked to put in some face time (though given the weight of their current state of being, that might be just a tiny bit depressing. No one wants Star Wars: Episode VII - Fat jedi or Star Wars: Episode VII - Han Torino).
George Lucas has written treatments for Star Wars: Episode VII, Star Wars: Episode VIII, and Star Wars: Episode IX, but he will not produce or direct.
Star Wars: Episode VII comes to theaters in 2015 and stars Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels. The film is directed by J.J. Abrams.
Comments (43)
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Scott Quarmby
Well said Vanboy. No GL anymore so Carrie Fisher won't be asked to go to the FatFarm again !!
6 months agoby @Scott-QuarmbyFlag
Vanboy
Who cares if they're fat. They are the originals. And as faras old, Alec Guiness was old, and he was awesome. These morons act like only young is good and old is bad.
7 months agoby @vanboyFlag
CBF
I can't see it without Jacen and Jaina. I really can't. They continue the story. Not some random sh*t. What crap.
7 months agoby @comicbookfanFlag
Basquat
That's a good idea. Focus on one film at a time, and not three. And if that one film turns out well then you can build on it.
7 months agoby @basquatFlag
RogueVadr6
Good. I want an original story.
7 months agoby @RogueVadr6Flag
Mutant
enough of the numbers, look at the planet of the apes film, do they have numbers?NO.
If they want Mark back, then set it decades in the future.
7 months agoby @zenderFlag
Space101
As long as the original cast is back...But still this seems wrong...waited way too long...
7 months agoby @space101Flag
Zak Lee Ferguson
wtf is wrong with this guy- he establishes that the series is done- its nice to know that yes got the modern era into it with Clone Wars- but Disney- come on- LucasFilms is Lucasfilms- 20th Century Fox are the badasses that release these movies- wtf- i can not get over this- no Lucas- no Star Wars!
7 months agoby @Zak-Lee-FergusonFlag
Bill Louis
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH US!!!!!!!!!!!
7 months agoby @Bill-LouisFlag
skywise
As much as I would love a Thrawn series its out of the question. As the article mentions above, the actors are not young enough. Thrawn takes place right after Jedi so it wouldnt make sense to have all these old characters running around.
I will say this though, Thrawn is one of the greatest SW villains. He is completly Dath Vaders opposite. Where Vader ruled through fear and murder, Thrawn ruled through sheer will power and charisma. The character is way too cool to skip over complety but...it seems that is exactly what will happen.
7 months agoby @skywiseFlag
The Real Lex Luthor
This is awesome news! But it needs to have Mark Hamill, and the rest of the OG cast in it... It won't work if they are not in it.
7 months agoby @thajackalFlag
Bawnian©-Dexeus
I'm guessing a Force Unleashed story is out of the question, since we are all throwing what we want to see on the big screen. But it's Disney, so that will never happen
7 months agoby @bawnian-dexeusFlag
incmob
@gandoff2169 actually she lost a lot of her weight here is a link for the before and after... and.. i am pretty sure it was not done with CGI
http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/24/carrie-fisher-reveals-50-pound-weight-loss/
that was august of 2011 not sure and have not heard if she gained it back or not though.
7 months agoby @incmobFlag
ROFLitschristian
I'm all for this, but putting something that can either redeem or totally lose the fan-base in 2 and 1/2 years is not screaming "victory" for me.
7 months agoby @ROFLitschristianFlag
Mka47
sweet! I'm all for an original story, as long as its good. an all controlling villain who plans to crush the New Republic with the help of a Dark Jedi sounds a little too familiar.
7 months agoby @mka47Flag
the MovieGhost
@incmob@huntsman I'm one of the few (maybe not) who would absolutely LOVE that. But as much as I want that to happen, part of me worries that if they took that course of action the new trilogy would render the KotOR games null and void.
7 months agoby @the-movieghostFlag
gandoff2169
There is so much new contradicting information, I do not know what to believe anymore. Lucas has said for years he had episodes 7,8, and 9 planned out. Based on the rebuilding of the Republic, rebuilding of the Jedi Counsel, and the final push to finish the small empire that remained. I myself Love Timothy Zohans work. I could see some of his stories being done as stand alone movies also. But I am beginning to think we should wait for an official statement on what the movies will be. Cause since Disney bought them, Lucas has said one thing, Disney another, then "inside" sources at Lucas Films stating something else entirely as well. I know Hamil, and Ford could play their roles as older characters. But as much as I love Fisher, her overall, well; size compared to what she was as Leia, would be less desirable on film.
7 months agoby @gandoff2169Flag
LazerDude
@rudy with the way the prequles turned out it is not surprising
7 months agoby @lazerdudeFlag
Rudy
Lucas had written treatments for sequels this whole time and didn't bother making them into movies??!!
7 months agoby @rudyFlag
the Narrator
This is what I'm not liking. Lucas is so damn prideful in what he's created, he's unwilling to pull from the numerous great stories from the expanded universe that have already proven themselves with the fans, opting to create an original trilogy yet again. Did he not learn from the prequels? Or does he still consider them a success, despite what long-time fans think? He really has succ*mbed to hubris.
7 months agoby @narratorFlag
CelluloidDreams
Hmmm.....not familiar with this story!!
7 months agoby @2movieguysFlag
Robert Dunkel
I know the perfect director: Timo Vuorensola he has just came out with some mild success with Iron Sky and he did a really good job with very little money, so he could come in under budget and offer an excellent product, especially with access to ILM and Skywalker Ranch.
7 months agoby @Robert-DunkelFlag
felipe-11
@incmob I agree on all that, except I don't want Ridley Scott in this, Ridley has to focus on the Blade Runner and Prometheus sequels, which frankly, I care much more about. Plus Ridley has said that he only liked the original Star Wars movie (not even the whole original trilogy), so there's no chance in hell he'd get involved in this.
JJ Abrams is too busy and has to focus on the Star Trek franchise...
You know who'd be perfect to direct a Star Wars movie? Kenneth Branagh. He's not too "high profile" of a director, but he did a terrific job with Thor.
7 months agoby @felipe-11Flag
incmob
@huntsman absoloutely! like you said i doubt however it would happen, just because of the unfamiliar territory it has with a wide based demographic... everyone knows who c3po, and ewoks are... but you cant market mandalorians and a utility droid T3-M4...lol. but for the fans i think it would be an incredible saga on its own. I just think the new films kind of drained me of everything current... in the past it is away from that continuity, so you can get away with more, introduce new species, ships, planets, and characters, without stepping on episodes 1-6. hopefully it will happen some day though.
7 months agoby @incmobFlag
Huntsman
@incmob: I'm with you I want something in the distant path along the lines of the Knights of the Old Republic. I don't think it will happen, but I would love it and think it's a awesome idea.
7 months agoby @huntsmanFlag
Cheetoboy
I heard there was an original story, that had the idae of Luke Skywalker turning to the Dark Side.
7 months agoby @cheetoboyFlag
Huntsman
@corey: Well that would suck, but they could easily create a new story and trilogy in the past if Lucasfilms and Disney wanted to.
7 months agoby @huntsmanFlag
incmob
for me personally... dont recast the original actors. to all of their credit, these are roles that are a staple of most of their careers. that being said, I think it would be essential for mark hamill to come back... at least as a jedi master, not a huge part, but almost like the role obi wan had in episode IV. Harrison ford has said he will not ever play Han again, and personally i dont think he would fit... sure, he could be there, but it would be as embarrassing as it was having him try to slip back into the role of indiana jones (although he looked great, but older, seemed to forget how to portray him in many parts.) Carrie Fisher, could seemingly be in the film as well, as a senator for the new republic.
the point is that some of the characters could work, and some could not. but could incorporate some of the characters to further the adventures. the solo twins, or skywalker and mara jades son. hopefully they are able to do it justice. lucas has already said he submitted treatments for 7-9, whether those are used or not is a different story.
give me JJ abrams, ridley scott, or Alfonso Cuaron.
however i cant handle hearing... "LET NOLAN DO IT" ... first of all nolan is a great director... but his films really are absent of effects in his films unless he "Needs" to do it. not to say a directore should go balls to the wall like lucas and put 85% of effects in the film, however this is a galaxy far far away we are talking about. not gotham city.
i just think the films need fans to make them good films. abrams, guillermo del torro, scott, hell even seth macfarlane (kidding on him doing it not being a fan). it needs to still stay in the star wars universe, still be cannon, and still be relevant. that is why i say give us a knights of the old republic trilogy, then book end it with another trilogy of decades or even 1,000's of years after jedi. no matter what they do, it will not erase the 6 films lucas has done. i am terrified of what might come, but a bit relieved as well.
7 months agoby @incmobFlag
skywise
I love the Thrawn series but its the continuation of the original characters and I think they are just too old since that series takes place about 5 years after Return.
I am very happy to hear that they are going to stat a whole new series. The Luke/Anakin strory has played itself out. Its time for some new blood!
7 months agoby @skywiseFlag
Mutant
Nothing is original, it's all borrowed.
7 months agoby @zenderFlag